What is Biological Wastewater Treatment?
Biological wastewater treatment is the process of breaking down organic matter with the help of microorganisms to levels that will not harm the environment. These systems mimic nature's own cleaning mechanisms in a controlled environment.
Biological treatment plants are examined in two main groups: aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen). Aerobic systems allow microorganisms to oxidize organic matter through aeration. Anaerobic systems break down organic matter in an oxygen-free environment to produce biogas.
As a result, biological wastewater treatment plants operate with high efficiency in domestic and industrial wastewater. Additionally, they offer a sustainable solution due to their low operating cost and environmentally friendly structure. Biological treatment is especially indispensable in wastewater with high organic loads.
System Types
- Activated Sludge System: Organic matter is broken down in the aeration tank
- SBR (Sequential Batch Reactor): Sequential stages in the same tank, high efficiency
- MBR (Membrane Bioreactor): Biological treatment + membrane filtration
- MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor): Carrier media biofilm system
- Anaerobic UASB: Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor
- Trickling Filter: Fixed bed biological filtration
- Lagoon Systems: Natural treatment ponds
- Bio-disk: Rotating biological contactor systems
Application Areas
- Municipal Facilities: Urban wastewater treatment systems
- Food Industry: Dairy, cheese, beer, beverage factories
- Pulp and Paper Industry: Cellulose processing wastewater
- Textile Industry: Dyeing and finishing wastewater
- Chemical Industry: Wastewater with organic pollutants
- Petrochemical: Refining wastewater
- Slaughterhouse: Meat processing wastewater
- Agricultural Enterprises: Animal waste treatment
How Does Biological Treatment Work?
In a biological wastewater treatment plant, the wastewater first goes through the pre-treatment stage. In addition, large particles are removed from the wastewater using screens and grit chambers.
It is then directed to the biological reactor. In the aerobic system, microorganisms break down organic pollutants through aeration. In the anaerobic system, biogas is produced in an oxygen-free environment. Therefore, the organic load is significantly reduced.
As a result, the treated water is separated from the biological mass in the final settling tank. Moreover, the effluent quality can be further enhanced with modern biological treatment methods such as MBR systems and MBBR technology.
Advantages of Biological Treatment
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Detailed InformationFrequently Asked Questions
The most efficient system depends on the characteristics of the wastewater. Generally, MBR systems provide the highest quality effluent. MBBR technology stands out with its compact structure. Activated sludge systems are a classic and reliable solution.
Aerobic systems operate in an oxygen-rich environment and require aeration. Anaerobic systems, on the other hand, produce biogas in an oxygen-free environment. While aerobic systems generally provide faster treatment, anaerobic systems offer energy recovery.
Excess biological sludge is passed through sludge thickening and dewatering units. It is then disposed of through agricultural use, incineration, or regular storage methods. In some facilities, it is evaluated for biogas production through anaerobic digestion.
Effluent water values are determined according to discharge standards. According to the Turkish Water Pollution Control Regulation, BOD must be <50 mg/L, COD <250 mg/L, and TSS <100 mg/L. Modern biological systems operate well below these values.
Biological wastewater treatment is suitable for all kinds of organic pollution in domestic and industrial wastewater. It is particularly widely used in the municipal, food, beverage, paper, textile, slaughterhouse, dairy products, and agriculture sectors.
The operating cost of biological treatment systems is much lower than that of chemical treatment. The main cost comes from aeration energy. In modern PLC-controlled systems, energy optimization can achieve savings of 30-40%.